Stone World Publishes Guide to Sourcing Quartz

Before purchasing quartz slabs and working with them, fabricators should understand that there are some major differences between sourcing quartz and natural stone. For instance, most natural stone that appears identical probably has identical properties and performance, but this is not the case with quartz.

To help fabricators learn these differences, Stone World has published the Natural Stone Guide to Sourcing Quartz on its website. According to Stone World, the price and quality of quartz varies from manufacturer to manufacturer for several reasons, including customs duties, exchange rates, government politics and freight. However, the article covers the two most important variances: raw ingredients and manufacturing processes.

Quartz is primarily made of silica crystals that range in size from 3 mm to powder, but forming it into a slab requires a resin binder, catalyst, ultraviolet (UV) light inhibitor, pigment and a few pieces of specialized machinery for mixing, molding, compressing, curing, gauging and polishing.

Quality Challenges

Although the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) established a quality standard for quartz several years ago, the organization does not have the authority to enforce it. Because of this, determining quality requires a fabricator to consider several challenges.

  1. Polymerization and curing
  2. UV light inhibitor to prevent premature fading
  3. Proper dimensions and workmanship
  4. Slab flatness
  5. Continuity of color, veining and particles
  6. Color reproducibility
  7. Gloss levels

Manufacturer Responsibilities

Manufacturers and suppliers have a responsibility to deliver quality products that can be proven with the following points:

  • High-quality equipment and processes
  • Quality ingredients
  • Slabs include detailed identification
  • Spec data sheets available
  • Properly maintained equipment
  • Warranty program

For more information, read the full article from Stone World.